Miami-Dade, Florida – A tragic incident unfolded outside a bank in Southwest Miami-Dade on Friday morning, resulting in the deaths of a mother and her three-year-old son in what the police are investigating as a murder-suicide.
Authorities reported that the heartbreaking event took place near the drive-thru ATM at a Chase branch in the Meadows shopping plaza. An off-duty police sergeant passing by the area heard gunshots around 7:40 am, prompting him to investigate.
Upon arrival, the sergeant discovered a minivan in the parking lot with a woman, man, and young toddler inside, all of whom were found deceased. The doors of the minivan were left open, with an unidentified SUV parked beside it.
During a later briefing, Detective Luis Sierra of the Miami-Dade Police revealed that the man was believed to be driving the SUV, while the woman was behind the wheel of the minivan. It is suspected that the man approached the woman’s vehicle while she was at the ATM, opening fire and tragically taking the lives of the woman and her young son before turning the weapon on himself.
The victims were identified as 43-year-old Odalys Maria Bancroft and her three-year-old son, Theodore Couto. The shooter remains unnamed, with authorities still investigating the motives behind the horrific incident.
Bancroft, a dedicated nurse and the director of regulatory affairs for Jackson Health System, was on her way to drop her son off at daycare when the tragedy occurred. Theodore, who had just graduated from pre-k, leaves behind a grieving family who has initiated a GoFundMe fundraiser to assist with his funeral costs.
Jennifer Cuoto, a family member, expressed the profound sorrow over Theodore’s sudden departure, describing him as a bright light in their lives whose loss has left them shattered. As the investigation continues, the community mourns the devastating loss of a mother and her young child in a senseless act of violence.